Boiler-tube spreader.



J. J. MAI-1BR.

BOILER TUBE SPREADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1a, 1908.

956,985. Patented May 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEY Q ANDREW; I;v QQAMM co. PHOTD-LITHCLEMPNERS WASWNGTON DYC J. J. MAHER.

BOILER TUBE SPREADER.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 16, 1908.

956,985. I Patented May 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PAENT @FFICE.

JOHN J. MAI-IE3, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TO THE BABCOGK & WILCOX CQMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NE'W JERSEY, A COBPQRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BOILER-TUBE SPREADER.

amass.

Application filed November 1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. Marina, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented a certain new and useful form of Boiler-Tube Spreader, of which the following is a specification.

It is customary in the construction water tube boilers to place battle plates at desired positions in the bank or banks of tubes in order that there may be an effective distribution of the heat throughout the entire extent of the same; the tubes are passed through the battle plates and in order to protect the latter from action of the heat, tirebricks of suitable material are inserted between the tubes to cover the plates. Each brick is designed to fill a substantially diamond-shaped space between four adjacent tubes and when in position lies in close contact with adjacent fire-bricks, filling other similar spaces. In order that the bailie plates may be effectually protected, it is necessary that the fire-bricks be securely positioned and completely fill the spaces between tubes. When it becomes necessary to replace these fire-bricks in making repairs, the insertion or removal of the bricks without breaking or other injury is exceedingly difficult while the tubes are in a normal or unspread position. I To overcome the difi iculty above set forth it is necessary to spread apart the water tubes at a point somewhat in advance of the position occupied, or to be occupied, by the fire-brick, and to place the brick in position by entering it between the tubes at the point where the same are spread apart, and then to move the brick along to a position against the baffie plate, or to remove it by a reverse operation. 7

It has heretofore been proposed to spread apart the water tubes of a boiler by means of a tool bearing shoulders adapted to be moved in opposite directions along the length of the too-l, after insertion between the tubes, by means of various screw mechanisms. Such tools possess certain disadvantages by reason of their cost, number of parts involved, time required for operation, and the liability of breakage or derangement of adjustable parts under the severe strain imposed thereon.

It is the purpose of my invention to pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

G, 1908. Serial No. 462,893.

vide a tube spreading tool exceedingly simple in design and construction, of few and fixed parts, capable of efficient and rapid operation and of low cost.

My invention consists in the design, construction, and combination of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Like characters of reference denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings herewith.

Figure 1 represents a view in front vation of the tool in position among the tubes, the latter being shown in section and a portion of the length of the tool being broken away; Fig. 2 represents a lire-brick of the usual form of construction used in battles of the type referred to; Fig. 3 represents a detail, enlarged view in front elevation of the tool; Fig. i represents a detail, enlarged view in side elevation of the tool; Fig. 5 represents a top view of the tool; Fig. 6 represents a detail view of a spreading arm.

The construction of my novel tool is as follows: A metal bar 1, preferably rectangular in cross section, is provided adjacent one end thereof with oppositely extending curved arms 2; said arms having straightends passing through the bar and secured in position by bolts 3. The arms 2 are spaced a suitable distance apart, so that when in position among the tubes, one arm will be in place over a tube in one row, and the second arm will be in place under the succeeding tube in an adjacent row, as shown in Fig. 1. Adjacent the opposite end of the bar 1 are provided oppositely extending apertures e, for the insertion of a handle 5, or a plurality of handles, for operating the tool in various positions.

The operation of my device is as follows: The tool is inserted between two adjacent rows of boiler tubes in an edgewise position with the arms extending lengthwise the tubes, and when adjacent the tubes which it is desired to spread apart, the tool is turned so that one arm will be under and a second over succeeding tubes of the adjacent rows; as shown in Fig. 1, the arms being in posi tion over and under tubes X, X it being desired to insert a brick in one or both of the substantially diamond-shaped spaces between the two groups of tubes X, Z, Y, Z. The tool being in position as shown, a brick,

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held by means of suitable tongs, is inserted in an edgewise position between either rows (4 and b or rows 0 and (Z, and the spreading tool is then turned, the downwardly curved end portion of the arms 2 riding over the tubes X, X, and forcing them apart, this being effected to a desired extent to permit of the turning of the brick into position between one of the groups of tubes X, Z, Y, Z. The brick is then moved along between the tubes to a position adjacent the baflie plate.

In practice it has been found necessary to spread only one tube of a group of four between which it is desired to insert, or from between which it is desired to remove, a fire-brick, in order that the latter may readily be inserted or removed without inury.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is 1.. A boiler tube spreader comprising a bar having adjacent one end thereof oppositely extending curved arms, said arms lying on opposite sides of the bar and rigidly secured thereto, the curvature of the arms being such that one arm may engage the under side and the other arm engage the upper side of succeeding tubes of adjacent rows.

2. A boiler tube spreader comprising a bar having adjacent one end thereof oppositelyextending curved arms, said arms lying on opposite sides of the bar and rigidly secured thereto.

3. A boiler tube spreader comprising a bar having adjacent one end thereof oppositely-extending curved arms, said arms being disposed on opposite sides of the bar in the same plane and rigidly secured thereto.

4. A boiler tube spreader comprising a bar having adjacent one end thereof oppositelyextending curved arms, said arms lying on opposite sides of the bar and spaced apart and rigidly secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. MAHER.

Witnesses:

EUGENE P. TERRY, RICHARD B. CAVANAGH. 

